Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip Celebrate 65 Years of Marriage | BridalGuide Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip Celebrate 65 Years of Marriage Photo Credit: Royal Household/John Swannell Today, Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip celebrate their 65th wedding anniversary. The couple tied the knot on November 20, 1947 in Westminster Abbey before 2,000 guests, followed by an intimate wedding lunch at Buckingham Palace. Here, check out 20 facts you may not know about the longest-married British monarch: 1. Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip are third cousins — both are great-great-grandchildren of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. Philip’s mother was born in Windsor Castle and he, in fact, has more royal blood than Elizabeth—his parents were Princess Alice of Battenberg and Prince Andrew of Greece, while Elizabeth’s mother was of British nobility. 2. The pair first met when Elizabeth was 13 and Philip was 18, and it was love at first sight for the young royal.

Her nanny, Marion “Crawfie” Crawford, remarked that Elizabeth “never took her eyes off him,” though he “didn’t pay her any special attention.” Regardless, the two started corresponding through frequent letters while Philip was in the Navy. “Lilibet took pride in writing to a man who was fighting for our country,” wrote Crawford in her book, The Little Princesses: The Story of the Queen’s Childhood by Her Nanny, Marion Crawford. “She never looked at anyone else,” Elizabeth's cousin, Margaret Rhodes, told Vanity Fair . 3. At first, Elizabeth’s parents and their royal advisors did not approve of Philip. He was, in essence, a prince without a kingdom — he had no financial standing, and he was considered a foreigner, despite having been born and educated in England and serving in the British Royal Navy. Further complicating his acceptance was the fact that his sisters had married German noblemen with Nazi links. 4. Philip proposed in secret to Elizabeth during the summer of 1946, and she immediately accepted without consulting her parents. 5.

After denying engagement rumors, the King and Queen took Elizabeth and her sister with them on a four-month trip to South Africa in early 1947, rumored to introduce her to other, more suitable men. “I knew the separation would change nothing; when Lilibet gives her love, she gives it once and for all," said Crawford. “From South Africa, she wrote to him constantly. And throughout the trip, she put Philip’s photograph on her dressing table.” 6. The King and Queen finally consented to the marriage and announced the engagement on July 9, 1947. Elizabeth’s engagement ring included diamonds from a tiara belonging to Philip’s mother. Photo via Daily Mail 7. Before the wedding, Philip renounced his Greek and Danish titles and converted from Greek Orthodoxy to Anglicanism. He was granted the royal titles of Duke of Edinburgh, Earl of Merioneth, and Baron Greenwich. 8. On the morning of the wedding, he quit smoking cigarettes cold turkey because he understood Elizabeth’s concern about her father’s addiction to cigarettes. 9.

Elizabeth’s wedding gown, designed by Norman Hartnell, was inspired by the Botticelli painting “Primavera,” where the central figure wears “clinging ivory silk, trailed with jasmine, smilax, syringa and small rose-like blossoms.” Hartnell purchased 10,000 pearls from the United States and made sure that no materials were sourced from Italy or Japan, recent enemies of the country, according to Vintage Weddings: One Hundred Years of Bridal Fashion and Style by Marnie Fogg. The 15-foot train, embroidered with pearl, crystal, and appliqué duchess satin, featured a star pattern. She borrowed a tiara from her mother: the diamond-encrusted Queen Mary Fringe Tiara, originally made for Queen Mary from a necklace Queen Victoria had given her as a wedding present. Photo via The British Monarchy 10. The wedding was the first royal festivity since the end of World War II. The bride famously saved up her ration cards in order to purchase a wedding gown.

The King was warned that “any banqueting and display at your daughter’s wedding will be an insult to the British people at the present time… and we would consider that you would be well advised to order a very quiet wedding in keeping with the times,” according to Austerity Britain, 1945-1951 by David Kynaston. 11. Noticeably missing from the wedding: The bride’s uncle, the Duke of Windsor, formerly King Edward VIII, who abdicated the throne in order to marry American socialite Wallis Simpson. The pair had been exiled to Paris because “a king and former king living in the same country would had resulted in two rival courts,” according to Vanity Fair . Also missing: Philip’s German relatives, including his three sisters, were not welcome in post-war Britain. 12. The four-tiered wedding cake was nine feet tall and weighed 500 pounds. The newlyweds cut the cake with Philip’s sword. One tier was saved for the christening of Prince Charles, and another was sent to Australia, who had provided the ingredients for the cake. 13. The King led a conga line through the staterooms of the palace during the celebratory ball.

14. The couple keeps separate bedrooms at their home in Clarence House. “In England, the upper class always have separate bedrooms,” their cousin Lady Pamela Hicks (née Mountbatten) explained . “You don’t want to be bothered with snoring or someone flinging a leg around. Then when you are feeling cozy, you can share your room sometimes. It is lovely to be able to choose.” 15. When the King’s health started declining and Elizabeth and Philip needed to take his place more frequently at public events, Philip took an open-ended leave from the Navy that effectively ended his military career. “I thought I was going to have a career in the Navy, but it came obvious there was no hope… There was no choice. It just happened. You have to make compromises. That’s life. I accept it. I tried to make the best of it,” he later reflected. 16. It was Philip who broke the news to Elizabeth that her father had passed away. She reportedly did not cry, but looked pale and worried at becoming Queen at age 25. 17. The marriage was truly a union based on love.

In a letter to her parents soon after the marriage, Elizabeth wrote: “I only hope that I can bring up my children in the happy atmosphere of love and fairness which Margaret and I have grown up in,” she wrote, adding that she and Philip “behave as though we had belonged to each other for years! Philip is an angel—he is so kind and thoughtful.” Philip wrote, "Cherish Lilibet? I wonder if that word is enough to express what is in me.” He remarked that she was “the only ‘thing’ in this world which is absolutely real to me, and my ambition is to weld the two of us into a new combined existence that will not only be able to withstand the shocks directed at us but will also have a positive existence for the good.” 18. At the insistence of Queen Mary and the Queen Mother, the next generation of the monarchy continued as the House of Windsor rather than taking on Philip’s surname, Mountbatten. The couple with two of their children, Princess Anne and Prince Charles. Photo via The British Monarchy 19. Prince Philip resented the fact that his children would not bear his last name.

“I am the only man in the country not allowed to give his name to his own children,” he reportedly griped. After the death of Queen Mary and the resignation of Winston Churchill, Queen Elizabeth II requested a change to honor her husband. The compromise: the royal family would continue as the House of Windsor, but “de-royalized” descendants (beginning with their grandchildren who lacked royal titles) would use Mountbatten-Windsor as their surname. However, Princess Anne, the only daughter of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, also adopted Mountbatten-Windsor before marriage. 20. On her husband, Queen Elizabeth II has said: "He is someone who doesn't take easily to compliments. But he has, quite simply, been my strength and stay all these years, and I and his whole family, in this and many other countries, owe him a debt greater than he would ever claim or we shall ever know." Prince Philip Biography (Royal Consort) Birthplace: Isle of Corfu, Greece Best known as: The husband of Queen Elizabeth II Prince Philip has been the official consort to Queen Elizabeth II since her ascension to throne in 1952.

Born into the royal family of Greece, Philip Mountbatten made a name for himself in Great Britain as a fast-rising young officer in the Royal Navy during World War II. After the war he became engaged to Princess Elizabeth and they were married on 20 November 1947. (He was created Duke of Edinburgh and his official title, by the queen's decree, is The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.) Beyond his royal duties as the queen's companion, Prince Philip became known as a keen outdoorsman and conservationist; in 1961 he co-founded and became the first president of the World Wildlife Fund. An avid sportsman, he passed his love of polo on to his son Prince Charles . Over the years The Duke of Edinburgh also developed a reputation for blunt and impolitic public quips, such as his 1966 comment that "British women can't cook." He and Queen Elizabeth have four children: Charles (b. 1948), Anne (b. 1950), Andrew (b. 1960) and Edward (b. 1964); as the eldest, Prince Charles is heir to the throne.

Extra credit: Prince Philip was the son of Prince Andrew of Greece; he later adopted the family name of Mountbatten from his mother’s side… Both Prince Philip and Queen Elizabeth are great-great-grandchildren of Queen Victoria ; Philip is descended from Victoria through his mother’s side of the family… Like Victoria’s husband Prince Albert , Philip has served as the Chancellor of Cambridge University… Prince Philip was played by James Cromwell in the 2006 movie The Queen; Helen Mirren played Elizabeth II. Copyright © 1998-2017 by Who2?, LLC. All rights reserved. Advertisement Advertisement How Are Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip Related? Updated June 11, 2016. Question: How are Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip related? Are Prince Philip and Queen Elizabeth II cousins? How are they related? Besides being husband and wife, Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip share ancestry. Who are those latest common ancestors? Answer: Elizabeth and Philip are both descended from Christian IX of Denmark and from Queen Victoria . Philip was born Prince Philip of Greece and Denmark. He gave up the title of Prince when he became a British citizen and converted from Greek Orthodoxy to Anglicanism.

His family name was Battenburg, which became Mountbatten. He was granted the title of Duke of Edinburgh and the style of His Royal Highness on his marriage, by his new father-in-law, George VI. Philip to Queen Victoria Philip's mother was Princess Alice of Battenburg who was born at Windsor Castle. She was congenitally deaf and in 1930 diagnosed with schizophrenia. Princess Alice's husband, mentioned below, was Prince Andrew of Greece and Denmark. continue reading below our video Profile: Elizabeth II of Britain Princess Alice's mother was Princess Victoria of Hesse and by Rhine, Philip's maternal grandmother. Princess Victoria was married to Prince Louis of Battenberg. Princess Victoria of Hesse and by the Rhine was the daughter of Princess Alice of the United Kingdom , Philip's great grandmother. Princess Alice's mother was Queen Victoria, Philip's great great grandmother. Elizabeth to Queen Victoria Elizabeth's father was George VI . George VI's father was George V, Elizabeth's grandfather. George V's father was Edward VII, Elizabeth's great grandfather. Edward VII's mother was Queen Victoria, Elizabeth's great great grandmother.

Answer 1 Thus Philip and Elizabeth are third cousins through this relationship, Philip descended from Victoria's daughter Alice and Elizabeth from Victoria's son Edward VII. But wait -- there's more! Elizabeth to Christian IX of Denmark Elizabeth's father was George VI. George VI's father was George V, Elizabeth's grandfather. George V's mother was Alexandra of Denmark , Elizabeth's great grandmother. Alexandra of Denmark's father was Christian IX of Denmark, Elizabeth's great great grandfather. Philip to Christian IX of Denmark Prince Andrew of Greece and Denmark was Philip's father, married to Princess Alice of Battenburg, listed above. George I of Greece was Prince Andrew's father and Philip's grandfather. Christian IX of Denmark was George I's father, and Philip's great grandfather. Answer 2 Thus Philip and Elizabeth are second cousins once removed through this relationship. Alexandra of Denmark and George I of Greece were siblings. Background Members of the royalty, and especially those who are expected to rule, usually have married other members of royal families. Because royal families are, almost by definition, a very small percentage of the population, the chances of marrying a relative are greatly increased.

Even if you add members of the nobility as eligible marriage partners, the available spouses are likely to have some common ancestors. Queen Victoria was related to her husband, Prince Albert , as first cousins and also third cousins once removed. Both Queen Elizabeth II and her husband, Prince Philip, are descended from Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, as detailed above. Queen Victoria and Prince Albert had a very fertile family tree , and many of their children, grandchilden, great-grandchildren -- and now even more generations -- married with other royal houses of Europe. It would have been difficult to find many royal families, by the time Elizabeth as a princess expected to inherit the throne, was looking for a husband. Henry VIII, an ancestor of Queen Elizabeth II and her husband, was married six times . All six of his wives could claim descent through Henry's ancestor, Edward I. Two of his wives were royal and the other four were from the English nobility. In the Habsburg royal family, intermarriage among close relatives -- double first cousins, uncles with their nieces, for example -- was very common. Philip II of Spain, for instance, was married four times ; three of his wives were related closely to him by blood.

The family tree of Sebastian of Portugal illustrates how intermarried the Habsburgs were: he had only four great-grandparents instead of the usual eight if there are no common ones, and he had only six great-great-grandparents instead of the usual 16. Manuel I of Portugal married women who were related to each other r; their descendants then intermarried. More recently, many members of royal families -- including those expecting to inherit rulership -- have married partners who are not part of royalty or even the nobility. BBC News | UK | Party marks Prince's 80th birthday Sunday, 10 June, 2001, 15:22 GMT 16:22 UK Party marks Prince's 80th birthday The duke attended a service at St George's Chapel The Queen has congratulated her husband, the Duke of Edinburgh, during his 80th birthday party at Windsor Castle. The Queen was speaking at a private lunch attended by royals from across Europe during a day of celebrations. A special thanksgiving service was held at St George's Chapel at Windsor on Sunday morning, followed by a private reception and family lunch at the castle.

I can't believe you're 80 Queen Elizabeth II Around 500 guests, including relatives from Germany, past and present members of staff and representatives of many of the organisations he has links to, attended the service and reception. It was the biggest gathering of royalty since the wedding of Prince Edward and Sophie Rhys-Jones in 1999. The Queen wished her husband, the Duke of Edinburgh a happy birthday and said: "I can't believe you're 80." At the Windsor Castle birthday party, she said: "I speak for all the family and everyone here, thank you from us all." Prince Philip said: "I'm not sure that I recommend being 80. Princess Margaret, attended in a wheelchair "It's not so much the age, but trying to survive these celebrations." During the thanksgiving service, the Right Reverend David Conner, Dean of Windsor, paid tribute to the duke for his "loyalty, encouragement, inspiration, example and sheer stickability". "We can be grateful for the example of someone who, on his birthday, chose to bring his family and friends to church," he said.

European royals The birthday lunch at Windsor Castle was for up to 30 members of the Royal Family as well as six nephews, four great-nephews, one niece and six great-nieces from Germany. Prince Harry, 16, arrived at St George's with one of the German nieces, Princess Xenia of Hohenlohe-Langenburg. The Queen Mother, who will be 101 years old in August, the Prince of Wales and Princess Margaret all attended the celebrations. Prince Harry with Princess Xenia of Hohenlohe-Langenburg (left) Margaret, who was pushed in a wheelchair by her son Viscount Linley, is still suffering the effects of a series of recent strokes. The British royals were joined by ex-King Constantine of Greece and Prince Paul of Yugoslavia. Prince William, 18, was absent as he is in Africa during his gap-year before starting university at St Andrews in Scotland this September. Busy schedule Although many aspects of the duke's life have been well documented, some things about the Queen's husband are perhaps less well known.

The youngest child and only son of Prince Andrew of Greece and Princess Alice of Battenberg, Philip's grandfather was a prince of Denmark who became King of Greece. But Philip renounced his Greek royal title in 1947 and became a naturalised British subject. Philip is related to kings of Prussia and emperors of Russia, and had four elder sisters, only one of whom, Princess Sophie, is still alive. Prince Philip facts Worshipped as a god on Tanna, a Pacific island Has piloted 59 types of aircraft Founded a bag-piping competition for the Pakistan Army in 1963 Has made around 4,500 speeches, averaging 7 a month for 49 years Both Prince Philip and the Queen are great-great grandchildren of Queen Victoria. And although the Duke of Edinburgh's only constitutional role is as a Privy Counsellor, he has always taken his royal duties seriously. He has fulfilled more than 18,000 official engagements, excluding those accompanying the Queen, an average of 370 a year. He is also known for taking a hands-on approach to the organisations he represents and has chaired more than 1,500 meetings.

Since 1956, more than four million young people from over 90 countries have taken part in the Duke of Edinburgh's Award scheme. The duke is also a prolific writer and has had several books published on environmental, technological, equestrian and other issues. Search BBC News Online Queen Elizabeth II - Queen - Biography.com Queen Elizabeth II Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain is currently the longest-reigning monarch in British history. She was crowned in 1953 and her 60 years on the throne was celebrated in June 2012 with the Diamond Jubilee. IN THESE GROUPS » quotes “I declare before you all that my whole life whether it be long or short shall be devoted to your service and the service of our great imperial family to which we all belong.” “1992 is not a year I shall look back on with undiluted pleasure. In the words of one of my more sympathetic correspondents, it has turned out to be an 'annus horribilis.'” “When life seems hard, the courageous do not lie down and accept defeat; instead, they are all the more determined to struggle for a better future.” “Discrimination still exists.

Some people feel that their own beliefs are being threatened. Some are unhappy about unfamiliar cultures. They all need to be reassured that there is so much to be gained by reaching out to others; that diversity is indeed a strength and not a threat.” “Grief is the price we pay for love.” “I cannot lead you into battle, I do not give you laws or administer justice but I can do something else, I can give you my heart and my devotion to these old islands and to all the peoples of our brotherhood of nations.” “In remembering the appalling suffering of war on both sides, we recognize how precious is the peace we have built in Europe since 1945.” “We lost the American colonies because we lacked the statesmanship to know the right time and the manner of yielding what is impossible to keep.” “Have you been playing a long time?" (To Eric Clapton at a palace reception)” “The British monarchy doesn't depend entirely on glamour, as the long, long reign of Queen Elizabeth II continues to demonstrate.

Her unflinching dutifulness and reliability have conferred something beyond charm upon the institution, associating it with stoicism and a certain integrity.” Queen Elizabeth II Queen Elizabeth II - Royal Wedding (TV-14; 1:25) An inside look at the royal wedding between Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip. Synopsis Queen Elizabeth II was born Princess Elizabeth Alexandra Mary on April 21, 1926, in London, to Prince Albert, Duke of York (later known as King George VI ), and Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon . She married Philip Mountbatten , Duke of Edinburgh, in 1947, became queen on February 6, 1952, and was crowned on June 2, 1953. She is the mother of Prince Charles , heir to the throne, as well as the grandmother of princes William and Harry . As the longest-serving monarch in British history, she has tried to make her reign more modern and sensitive to a changing public while maintaining traditions associated with the crown. Early Life Queen Elizabeth II was born Princess Elizabeth Alexandra Mary on April 21, 1926, in London, England.

At the time of her birth, most did not realize Elizabeth would someday become queen of Great Britain. Her father, Prince Albert, was the second son of King George V and Queen Mary . Elizabeth got to enjoy the first decade of her life with all the privileges of being a royal without the pressures of being the heir apparent. Her father and mother, also known as the Duke and Duchess of York, divided their time between a home in London and Royal Lodge, the family's home on the grounds of Windsor Great Park. Elizabeth, nicknamed Lilibet, and her younger sister Margaret were educated at home by tutors. Academic courses included French, mathematics and history, with dancing, singing and art lessons undertaken as well. Father Becomes King In 1936, the course of Elizabeth's life changed with the death of her grandfather, George V, with whom she was said to be close. Her uncle became King Edward VIII , but he was in love with American divorcée Wallis Simpson and had to choose between the crown and his heart. In the end, Edward chose Simpson and Elizabeth's father became King George VI.

Service in WWII With the outbreak of World War II in 1939, Elizabeth and her sister Princess Margaret largely stayed out of London, having been relocated to Windsor Castle. From there she made the first of her famous radio broadcasts, with this particular speech reassuring the children of Britain who had been evacuated from their homes and families. The 14-year-old princess, showing her calm and firm personality, told them "that in the end, all will be well; for God will care for us and give us victory and peace." Elizabeth soon started taking on other public duties. Appointed colonel-in-chief of the Grenadier Guards by her father, Elizabeth made her first public appearance inspecting the troops in 1942. She also began to accompany her parents on official visits within Britain. In 1945, Elizabeth joined the Auxiliary Territorial Service to help in the war effort. She trained side-by-side with other British women to be an expert driver and mechanic. While her volunteer work only lasted a few months, it offered Elizabeth a glimpse into a different, non-royal world. She had another vivid experience outside of the monarchy when she and Margaret were allowed to mingle anonymously among the citizenry on Victory in Europe Day.

Marriage and Accession Elizabeth first met Philip Mountbatten (a surname adopted from his mother's side), son of Prince Andrew of Greece, when she was only 13, and was smitten with him from the start. Distant cousins, the two kept in touch over the years and eventually fell in love. They made an unusual pair. Elizabeth was quiet and reserved while Philip was boisterous and outspoken. Her father, King George VI, was hesitant about the match because, while Mountbatten had ties to both the Danish and Greek royal families, he didn't possess great wealth and was considered by some a bit rough in his personality. At the time of their marriage in the autumn of 1947, Great Britain was still recovering from the ravages of WWII. Elizabeth in fact collected clothing coupons to get fabric for her gown. The ceremony was held at London's Westminster Abbey on November 20. The family took on the name Windsor, a move pushed by her mother and Prime Minister Winston Churchill , and which caused tension with her husband. The couple wasted no time in producing an heir. Son Charles was born the following year and daughter Anne arrived in 1950.

On February 6, 1952, King George VI died, and Elizabeth assumed the responsibilities of the ruling monarch. (She and Prince Philip had been in Kenya at the time of her father's death.) Her official coronation took place on June 2, 1953, in Westminster Abbey. For the first time, the ceremony was broadcast on television, allowing people from across the globe to witness the pomp and spectacle of the event. World Traveler Queen Elizabeth's long and mainly peaceful reign has been marked by vast changes in her people's lives, in her country's power, how Britain is viewed abroad and how the monarchy is regarded and portrayed. As a constitutional monarch, Elizabeth does not weigh in on political matters, nor does she reveal her political views. However, she confers regularly with her prime ministers. When Elizabeth became queen, post-war Britain still had a substantial empire, dominions and dependencies. However, during the 1950s and 1960s, many of these possessions achieved independence and the British Empire evolved into the Commonwealth of Nations. Elizabeth II has thus made visits to other countries as head of the Commonwealth and a representative of Britain, including a groundbreaking trip to Germany in 1965.

She became the first British monarch to tour there in more than five decades. During the 1970s and 1980s, Queen Elizabeth continued to travel extensively. In 1973 she attended the Commonwealth Conference in Ottawa, Canada, and in 1976 traveled to the United States for the 200th anniversary celebration of America’s independence from Britain. More than a week later she was in Montreal, Canada, to open the Summer Olympics. In 1979, she traveled to Kuwait, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Oman, which garnered international attention and widespread respect. A Royal Family Elizabeth had two more children—sons Andrew and Edward —in 1960 and 1964 respectively. She worked tirelessly to protect the image of the monarchy and to prepare for its future. In 1969, she officially made Prince Charles her successor by granting him the title of Prince of Wales. Hundreds of millions of people tuned in to see the ceremony on television. In 1981 Charles wed 19-year-old Diana Spencer , with later rumors surfacing that he was pressured into the marriage from his family.

The wedding drew enormous crowds in the streets of London and millions watched the proceedings on television. Public opinion of the monarchy was especially strong at that time. The following year, Elizabeth worried about her second son Prince Andrew, who served as a helicopter pilot in the British Royal Navy during the Falklands War of 1982. Britain went to war with Argentina over the Falklands Islands, a clash that lasted for several weeks. While more than 250 British soldiers died in the conflict, Prince Andrew returned home safe and well much to his mother's relief. Threats and Scandals Elizabeth, as queen, has seen the monarchy come under attack during her lifetime. The once-revered institution has weathered a number of storms, including death threats against the royal family. In 1979, Elizabeth suffered a great personal loss when Lord Mountbatten, her husband's uncle, died in a terrorist bombing. Mountbatten and several members of his family were aboard his boat on August 29, off the west coast of Ireland, when the vessel exploded. He and three others, including one of his grandsons, were killed.

The IRA (Irish Republican Army), which opposed British rule in Northern Ireland, took responsibility for the attack. In June 1981, Elizabeth herself had a dangerous encounter. She was riding in the Trooping the Colour, a special military parade to celebrate her official birthday, when a man in the crowd pointed a gun at her. He fired, but, fortunately, the gun was loaded with blanks. Other than receiving a good scare, the Queen was not hurt. She had an even closer call the following year when an intruder broke into Buckingham Palace and confronted Elizabeth in her bedroom. When the press got wind of the fact that Prince Philip was nowhere to be seen during this incident, they speculated about the state of the royal marriage. The love lives of her children have caused Elizabeth heartache as well. The rocky marriage of Prince Charles and Princess Diana made headlines for years before the couple announced plans to divorce in 1992. Prince Andrew's union with Sarah Ferguson ended up in the tabloids as well, with photos of Sarah and another man engaged in romantic activity splashed across the front papers. And the Queen's own husband has inspired numerous public relations headaches with his off-the-cuff, edgy comments and rumors of possible infidelities.

In 1997, Elizabeth went under intense media scrutiny herself in the wake of Princess Diana's death. Her incredibly popular ex-daughter-in-law, sometimes nicknamed the People's Princess, died from injuries in a Paris car crash on August 31. The Queen was at her Balmoral estate in Scotland with Prince Charles and his and Diana's two sons, Prince William and Prince Harry, at the time. For days, Elizabeth remained silent while the country mourned Diana's passing, and she was sharply criticized for her lack of response. Stories circulated that the Queen did not want to give Diana a royal funeral, which only fueled public sentiment against the monarch. Nearly a week after Diana's death, Elizabeth returned to London and issued a statement on the late princess. Loss and Change After the start of the 21st century, Elizabeth experienced two great losses. She said good-bye to both her sister Margaret and her mother in 2002, the same year she celebrated her Golden Jubilee, or 50th year on the throne. Margaret, known for being more of an adventurous soul than other royals and who was barred from marrying an early love, died that February after suffering a stroke.

Only a few weeks later, Elizabeth's mother, known as the Queen Mother, died at Royal Lodge on March 30 at the age of 101. Known to be a stickler for ceremony and tradition, Elizabeth eventually started to show signs of softening her stance. She had objected to the relationship between Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles , with the pair having been involved while the prince was married. When the two wed in 2005, Elizabeth and Prince Philip had a reception in their honor at Windsor Castle. Elizabeth has also emerged as a devoted grandmother to William and Harry. Prince William has said that she offered invaluable support and guidance as he and Kate Middleton planned their 2011 wedding. That same year, Elizabeth showed that the crown still had symbolic and diplomatic power when she became the first British monarch to visit the Republic of Ireland since 1911. Elizabeth has modernized the monarchy as well. She had dropped some of its formalities and made certain sites and treasures more accessible to the public. As Britain and other nations have struggled financially, she has welcomed the elimination of the Civil List, which was a public funding system of the monarchy dating back roughly 250 years.

The royal family continues to receive some government support, but the Queen has had to cut back on spending. Diamond Jubilee Despite the occasional call to step aside for Prince Charles, Elizabeth has remained steadfastly on the throne. Some of her duties have been passed on to her eldest son, but she still maintains a busy schedule. Elizabeth handles roughly 430 engagements each year and supports hundreds of charitable organizations and programs. Elizabeth celebrated her Diamond Jubilee in 2012, marking 60 years as queen. As part of the jubilee festivities, a special BBC concert was held on June 4 featuring the likes of Shirley Bassey , Paul McCartney , Tom Jones , Stevie Wonder and Kylie Minogue . Elizabeth was surrounded by family at this historic event, including her husband Philip, son Charles and grandsons Harry and William. Then on September 9, 2015, she surpassed her great-great-grandmother Queen Victoria as Britain's longest ruling monarch, who reigned for 63 years. Queen Grandmother In 2013, Elizabeth celebrated another happy event.

Her grandson William and his wife Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge, welcomed their first child, George Alexander Louis —known officially as "His Royal Highness Prince George of Cambridge"—on July 22, 2013. Elizabeth visited her new great-grandson after William and Kate returned home to Kensington Palace from the hospital. Two years later, on May 2, 2015, William and Kate welcomed their second child, Princess Charlotte , who is also the Queen's fifth great-grandchild. In addition to Prince William and Prince Harry, the Queen’s other grandchildren are Peter Phillips, Princess Beatrice of York, Princess Eugenie of York, Zara Tindall, Lady Louise Windsor and James, Viscount Severn. Relationship With Prime Ministers As of 2017, Elizabeth has had 13 prime ministers placed into power during her reign, with Queen and PM having a weekly, confidential meeting . (Elizabeth has also met about a quarter of all the U.S. presidents in history.) She enjoyed a father figure relationship with the iconic Winston Churchill, and was later able to loosen up a bit and be somewhat informal with Labour leaders Harold Wilson and James Callaghan.

In contrast, she and Margaret Thatcher had a very formal, distant relationship, with the PM tending to be a grating lecturer to the Queen on a variety of issues. Tony Blair saw certain concepts around the monarchy as somewhat outdated, though he did appreciate Elizabeth making a public statement after the death of Princess Diana. Later, Conservative leader David Cameron , who is Elizabeth's fifth cousin removed, enjoyed a warm rapport with the Queen. He apologized in 2014 for revealing in a conversation that she was against the Scottish referendum to seek independence from Great Britain. The most recent PM, Theresa May , has been described as being tight-lipped about Brexit plans to leave the European Union, with a rumor circulating that Elizabeth was perturbed over not being informed about future exit strategies. Screen and Stage Depictions Keeping in mind the duration of her reign, Elizabeth has been played by a number of well-known actresses on both stage and screen. She has perhaps most famously been portrayed by Helen Mirren , who received an Oscar and Golden Globe, among other accolades, for her starring role in 2006's The Queen, directed by Stephen Frears.

Mirren later played Elizabeth in The Audience, a West End and Broadway play which chronicled the Queen's aforementioned meetings with various prime ministers and for which the actress earned a 2015 Tony Award. Elizabeth later received a dramatic stage treatment from the formidable Kristin Scott Thomas , who starred in The Audience in 2015. The Queen has also been played in various films over the decades by lookalike Jeannette Charles and was portrayed by Emma Thompson in the Playhouse Presents TV episode Walking the Dogs (2012). Elizabeth has been more recently portrayed on television screens by Claire Foy; the actress depicts the future monarch at the time of her marriage and political relationship with Churchill ( John Lithgow ) in Netflix's The Crown, which debuted in autumn 2016. Foy received a Best Actress Golden Globe for the role. Health Scare As 2016 came to end, concerns about the Queen’s health grew. The Queen was reported to have a “heavy cold” and missed several traditional holiday events, including Christmas and New Year's services. “The Queen does not yet feel ready to attend church as she is still recuperating from a heavy cold,” the palace said in a statement.

She made her first public appearance in January since taking ill in December. At that time it was also announced that she would be cutting the number of charities of which she is a patron in an effort to reduce her work obligations. Personal Life Not one for the spotlight, Elizabeth likes quiet pastimes. She enjoys reading mysteries, working on crossword puzzles and even watching wrestling on television. For much of her life, the Queen has surrounded herself with dogs. She is especially known for her love of corgis. Also a horse enthusiast, Elizabeth breeds thoroughbreds and attends several racing events each year. Videos How Is Queen Elizabeth II Related to Queen Victoria? How Is Queen Elizabeth II Related to Queen Victoria? Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth II. L:Ann Ronan Pictures/Print Collector/Getty Images R: Picture Post/IPC Magazines/Hulton Archive/Getty Image Updated December 17, 2016. Question: How is Queen Elizabeth II related to Queen Victoria? Queen Elizabeth II is obviously a member of the royal family, as was Queen Victoria . Both are long-ruling British queens who wielded their power in their own right, rather than being queens by marriage. So what exactly is their genealogical relationship? How is Queen Elizabeth II related to Queen Victoria?

And while we're at it—how is Prince Philip, Elizabeth's husband related to Queen Victoria? Answer: Queen Elizabeth II is a great great granddaughter of Queen Victoria. Elizabeth's father was George VI (1895 - 1952). He married Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon (1900 - 2002) in 1925, and they had two daughters, Elizabeth II and Princess Margaret. George VI's father was George V (1865 - 1936), Elizabeth's grandfather. He married Mary of Teck (1867 - 1953) in 1893, a German princess raised in England. George V's father was Edward VII (1841 - 1910). Elizabeth's great grandfather. He married Alexandra of Denmark (1844 - 1925), a Danish princess. continue reading below our video Profile: Elizabeth II of Britain Edward VII's mother was Queen Victoria (1819 - 1901), Elizabeth's great great grandmother.

She married Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha (1819 - 1861) in 1840. Prince Philip to Queen Victoria Elizabeth's husband, Prince Philip (1921 - ), Duke of Edinburgh, is a great great grandson of Queen Victoria, making Elizabeth and Philip third cousins through this relationship. Philip's mother, Princess Alice of Battenburg (1885 - 1969), was the daughter of Princess Victoria of Hesse and by the Rhine. Philip's father was Prince Andrew of Greece and Denmark (1882 - 1944); is parents married in 1903. Princess Alice's mother was Princess Victoria of Hesse and by Rhine (1863 - 1950), Philip's maternal grandmother. Princess Victoria was married to Prince Louis of Battenburg (1854 - 1921) in 1884. Princess Victoria of Hesse and by the Rhine was the daughter of Princess Alice of the United Kingdom (1843 - 1878), Philip's great-grandmother.

Princess Alice was married to Louis IV (1837 - 1892), Grand Duke of Hesse and by Rhine. Another daughter of Princess Victoria and Grand Duke Louis IV was Alexandra, the last Tsaritsa of Russia, married to Nicholas II. Princess Alice's mother was Queen Victoria, Philip's great great grandmother. More Facts About Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth II Until 2015, Queen Victoria had been the longest-ruling monarch in the history of England or the United Kingdom or Great Britain. Then Queen Elizabeth outlived that record of 63 years, 216 days, on September 9, 2015. George III of the United Kingdom ranks the third longest-reigning at 59 years, James VI is the fourth longest-reigning at almost 58 years (including his time ruling Scotland alone), Henry III of England ruled for just over 56 years, and Edward III of England reigned for more than 50 years. Queen Victoria's first name was Alexandrina, and her second name was Victoria. Queen Elizabeth's birth name was Elizabeth Alexandra Mary. Both became queen through chance.

Queen Victoria's father was fourth in line for the throne, but none of his older brothers had children. Queen Elizabeth's father unexpectedly became king when his brother abdicated. Both remained active as monarch well into their elder years, living to celebrate Diamond Jubilees. The Diamond Jubilee celebrations were different, though, as Victoria was in frail health, and Elizabeth in good health. The celebration of Victoria's Jubilee was at a height of British power, and Elizabeth's a considerably less powerful nation. This was reflected, for instance, in the finale of the 1897 celebration involving 165 ships in a royal naval review. Heads of state of commonwealth nations traveled to London for Victoria's Jubilee; for Elizabeth's, members of the royal family visited those states. Both lived long enough to have great-grandchildren. Both were in loving and devoted marriages. Both designated their husband's title as Prince. Both had to officially propose to their husbands, rather than the tradition of the man asking the woman, because of their royal status. Queen Victoria had nine children, and Queen Elizabeth II had four children. Both were noted for their love of dogs and horses.

Both had heirs who had scandalous affairs, and both queens were much more popular during their lifetimes than their heirs were. Queen Victoria had more real power than Queen Elizabeth II has had, though still not as much royal power as many of their ancestors did, including their relative, Queen Elizabeth I.

Question: Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip are both the great-great grandchildren of whom?
Answer: Queen Victoria